Right on schedule, Apple has unveiled a host of new smart home products. Top of the list is the Apple TV 4K, a much-needed refresh of the outdated 2022 model. It has a new remote and the A19 chip that powers the last-gen base iPhone 17 and 17e. All these upgrades are in the name of Siri AI.
This being the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, the Fruit Company’s got the formula down. Now, it’s all about refining annoyances users have dealt with for the past four years. We can’t promise it’s succeeded — not ’til we’ve tried it ourselves — but this seems like a good effort, anyway. It’ll be out on 13 November.
Another bite of the Apple
The A19 chip is arguably the biggest upgrade here, next to the 128GB of storage (ditching the paltry 64GB variant entirely). Apple claims serious performance bumps, to the tune of 50% faster CPU performance and “up to” double the GPU performance. Then there’s Siri AI, letting users chat more conversationally to their TV.
“Users can simply ask Siri “What Apple TV shows won at the Emmy Awards this year?” and see beautiful poster art pulled directly from the Apple TV app, along with relevant suggestions like “More award-winning comedies” to keep exploring,” Apple said. If you’ve got an iPhone handy, it’ll delve into your personal context for more relevant replies. The streaming box also has three microphones for a fully hands-free Siri experience.
Read More: A working Apple-1 computer signed by Woz is yours for (at least) R6.7 mil
Other upgrades include Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi 7 support. The HDMI port is now 2.1, though it tops out at 4K/60fps. We were disappointed to learn that the new ‘Siri Remote’ — which keeps the familiar design — doesn’t include speakers. Instead, it’s added ‘Find My’ support with Precision Finding. It’ll do the same job of helping you locate the thing when it’s consumed by the couch cushions, but the solution is far less fun.
The Apple TV 4K (4th-gen) is currently available for pre-order in the States, with plans to ship on 13 November. It’s an expensive bugger, thanks to Apple’s asking price of roughly R5,000 ($300). That’s double what the 128GB third-gen model cost. Nothing has been confirmed for SA yet, but history says we’ll likely see it hit shelves the same day as in the States. Just… don’t expect pricing to look quite so kind once the import fees have had their say.
